Article60 - Front Porch Forum

Guide: How you can help —volunteer or donate during the coronavirus outbreak

VTDigger

March 14, 2020

By: Elizabeth Gribkoff and Mike Dougherty

VTDigger file photos of Vermont’s response to the coronavirus.

VTDigger is posting regular updates on the coronavirus in Vermont on this page. You can also subscribe here for regular email updates on the coronavirus. If you have any questions or thoughts or updates on how Vermont is responding to COVID-19, contact us at coronavirus@vtdigger.org

Vermonters, known for being civic-minded, have already started taking to Front Porch Forum and Twitter to see how they can help fellow residents prepare for the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Michael Wood-Lewis, founder of Front Porch Forum, said the online, community-based information service was seeing “dozens, probably hundreds” of posts from neighbors wanting to help out. Several ad hoc groups are organizing courier services to deliver supplies to neighbors who can’t leave their homes.

“That’s very common — people wanting to do something in this moment, which is heartening to see,” Wood-Lewis said.

One of the best ways for healthy people to help out right now is by practicing what epidemiologists are calling “social distancing.”

“If you are healthy, but infected, and feeling fine, you not interacting with other people is going to slow this virus down,” explained Dr. Joshua White, chief medical officer at Gifford Medical Center.

Regarding ad hoc courier services, White said organizers should take proper precautions. Don’t accept volunteers that are themselves ill or high-risk. Drop goods at recipients’ doors; don’t enter their homes, interact with them, and then do the same in another person’s home.

“Continuing to practice social distancing while they’re doing that would be key,” White said.

Beth Stern, executive director of the Central Vermont Council on Aging, said that some senior centers are stopping group meals, opting instead to have people pick-up pre-bagged meals. Stern said the local organizations she works with are concerned about losing volunteers for crucial efforts like meal delivery, and may start revising policies so meals can be left outside doors to minimize potential exposure. She also recommended checking in on older neighbors in a “safe way” — perhaps through phone or email — to see if they need anything.

“The older people are the riskier population here, and we can’t just ignore that,” she added.

The CDC has also put together a guide for community organizations preparing for the coronavirus.

On this page, we’ll be listing reader-submitted opportunities to volunteer or donate during the coronavirus outbreak. This is not a comprehensive list and will be updated on a rolling basis.

If you’re organizing a courier service or other assistance program, or work for a social service organization in need of donations, please send us the details at coronavirus@vtdigger.org, subject line ASSISTANCE.

Courier/delivery services

Quarantine Delivery Service – Burlington and South Burlington. Recovery Advocate Scott Pavek is seeking volunteers to deliver groceries and other items for those who are in self-quarantine. Request items here.

Quarantine Delivery Service – Richmond. Jen Rose Smith is managing requests for goods and volunteer signups.

Quarantine Delivery Service – Central Vermont. Contact Margaret Jones for more information.

Donations

Vermont Foodbank. Communications director Nichole Whalen says cash donations are more helpful than food or other items at this time.

Donate blood. The FDA has raised concerns about a blood shortage as donation drives are cancelled.

VTCOVID-19 Response Fund. The Vermont Community Foundation has set-up a special fund to help both with emergency response efforts and longer term recovery.

Displaced college student assistance

University of Vermont mutual aid spreadsheet, Burlington. For recently displaced University of Vermont students.

Middlebury College Community Aid, Middlebury. For students, faculty and staff impacted by Middlebury College’s recent move to remote instruction.

School for International Training Student Emergency Fund. To help repatriate SIT students studying abroad and support online education.

General aid

Community organizers have created surveys for towns and villages around the state for residents who are willing to be called upon to help with everything from picking up groceries to doing peer-to-peer counseling.

Bradford Mutual Aid

BTV Mutual aid, Burlington

Essex Area Mutual Aid, Essex

Royalton Mutual Aid, Royalton

Rutland Mutual Aid

Thetford Emergency Management — offer or request help.

Statewide — “How Can I Help” Facebook group.